Layered Air filter

[firefighter_2000]

On my older Ram, the air filter had a foam layer over the top. I found these for the 3rd gen trucks, but not the 4th. The dimensions are the same except the new ones without foam are about 2 inches thicker. Do they make one for the 4th gens with the foam?
The obsolete Fleetguard part # was AF4717 for the 3rd gen.

 

[AH64ID]

The new 4" filter without foam is a much better filter than the 2" with the foam ever was, just stick to the OEM 4" filter and call it good.

 

[JR]

VW did the same thing with their filters for many years. They called it a snow screen of sorts to help prevent the main filter media from getting wet. I would guess with the 13+ moisture sensor diverting air flows from outside to the inner fender Fleetguard felt it wasn't necessary anymore.

 

[Jim W]

My 2008, never had a foam sheet over the air filter since new. I am now on my 6 air filter and none of them ever had a foam sheet included when I purchase the filters from Geno's Garage.

 

[AH64ID]

My 2008, never had a foam sheet over the air filter since new. I am now on my 6 air filter and none of them ever had a foam sheet included when I purchase the filters from Geno's Garage.

None of the 6.7's had the 2" w/ foam filter. Dodge/Ram went away from the 2" filter around 2005, and it's been obsolete for a long time for a reason.

 

[firefighter_2000]

None of the 6.7's had the 2" w/ foam filter. Dodge/Ram went away from the 2" filter around 2005, and it's been obsolete for a long time for a reason.

What was the reason?

 

[AH64ID]

What was the reason?

Inadequate airflow and low filter life.

For comparison my 05 could pull the filter minder down on the 2" filter with just a few miles on it, on a stock tune. The Amsoil 2" was better and it took a 50hp tune to suck the filter minder down.

On the 4" filter I never had the filter minder move, even on a tune that dyno'd over 500 rwhp with an aftermarket cam and turbo.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Inadequate airflow and low filter life.

Does the foam stop up quicker than the paper media does?

 

[AH64ID]

Does the foam stop up quicker than the paper media does?

I think it has to do with the lower amount of actual media and not the foam.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I was told the reason for the foam was to help with the passenger side Turbo noise. Remember who usually sets on the passenger side.

My 12V had it and the replacement filters later on did not.

 

[NIsaacs]

Inadequate airflow and low filter life.

For comparison my 05 could pull the filter minder down on the 2" filter with just a few miles on it, on a stock tune. The Amsoil 2" was better and it took a 50hp tune to suck the filter minder down.

On the 4" filter I never had the filter minder move, even on a tune that dyno'd over 500 rwhp with an aftermarket cam and turbo.

I have often wondered about this. On level 3 my filter minder pulls down some. I did some research before, to try and use the 4" but it wont fit my box. This thread got me looking again.

Per Wix, the only company I could find CFM specs for, says the 2" filter for my truck is only 140 cfm It don't give a CFM for the 4".

Yet, the '91 factory filter, similar to a BHAF is 450 cfm. For a '93 (they changed it some) 290

The small BHAF is 425 and the large one is 680. I never really wanted a BHAF but......

What say the experts

 

[JR]

Buy a new truck, get a free filter

 

[Tuesdak]

reason for the foam

The foam on paper air filters is known as a pre-cleaner. Round HD air filters have/had them say on GM 6.2 NA diesels. I recall you had a choice back in the day of standard or HD with the foam wrap for many engines.

High Dust commonly would be small engines on a lawn mower or rototiller. Many of these engines had and still have a DRY foam pre cleaner over a flat paper air filter. The service interval on the small engine foam pre-cleaner was short, but, got you more life out of the paper air filter. (No, not talking about the common oiled foam brick air filters.)

Even my 1989 Homelite Wisconson Robin powered Genset has a foam precleaner.

Snow is merely dust as far as the air filter is concerned. (Till it melts anyway.)

 

[AH64ID]

I have often wondered about this. On level 3 my filter minder pulls down some. I did some research before, to try and use the 4" but it wont fit my box. This thread got me looking again.

Per Wix, the only company I could find CFM specs for, says the 2" filter for my truck is only 140 cfm It don't give a CFM for the 4".

Yet, the '91 factory filter, similar to a BHAF is 450 cfm. For a '93 (they changed it some) 290

The small BHAF is 425 and the large one is 680. I never really wanted a BHAF but......

What say the experts

While I’m not a BHAF fan the 2nd Gen seems to warrant them when better than stock airflow is needed.

Get a good one, build a heat shield, and call it good.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I run the AFE Proguard 7 conical filter on my 01 Sport with good oil reports. Same on my 98 12v my Son now own.

 

[JR]

Snow is merely dust as far as the air filter is concerned. (Till it melts anyway.)

Exactly, then any residual dirt already on the filter turns into mud and blocks the media.

This is for VW applications, notice the extreme weather application (separate from dusty environments)

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2264012&cc=1502694&jsn=313

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2264514&cc=1502694&jsn=310

The only difference in the two filters is the prefilter. Mann is an OE supplier to many European vehicles including some VW.

Here is one directly from VW, notice in the description they call out cold climate package.
https://parts.vw.com/p/Volkswagen__/Air-Filter/54272658/1K0129620L.html

And one more, Hengst is another OE filter supplier to VW. Note the cold climate description under fitment.


https://www.carparts.com/air-filter/hengst/y8we488l01

 

[NIsaacs]

While I’m not a BHAF fan the 2nd Gen seems to warrant them when better than stock airflow is needed.

Get a good one, build a heat shield, and call it good.

Do you think one with the plastic housing would work for a heat shield? I use one on my Ford conversion but it is not as close to the turbo and the inlet is facing the grill.

I will need to get the tape measure out but I think it will fit (11.88"x10.5"). Napa #6469/470cfm.

 

[Jim W]

I was told the reason for the foam was to help with the passenger side Turbo noise. Remember who usually sets on the passenger side.

My 12V had it and the replacement filters later on did not.

I seem to remember that the 6.7L engine (at least on my truck) had a foam insert in the air tube after the air cleaner, that was considered a baffle for sound reduction. Mine has gone MIA, it might still be in the garage attic along with other MIA parts from the truck.

 

[AH64ID]

Do you think one with the plastic housing would work for a heat shield? I use one on my Ford conversion but it is not as close to the turbo and the inlet is facing the grill.

I will need to get the tape measure out but I think it will fit (11.88"x10.5"). Napa #6469/470cfm.

View attachment 127929 View attachment 127930

That would certainly be better than the open design and much easier than a custom heat shield.

 

[NIsaacs]

That would certainly be better than the open design and much easier than a custom heat shield.

It has been awhile since I don't use the Ford much, but dang, that filter is getting hard to come by. Closest one for Napa is Texas, so several days.

Simply Filter, a large Fleetguard supplier is 2-3 weeks and $114, My cost on Napa (list $123) is $65 so I ordered one.

https://www.simplyfilter.com/AIRHOUSING-p/ah1139.htm